Hot water heating and dispensing apparatus



Aug. 24, 1965 A. B. HOMEYER 3,202,321

HOT WATER HEATING AND DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Oct. l?, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 i LI?) /34 FIG.I

|I|G 7 ARTHUR B. HOIVIIYER INVENTOR BYQUMLA-M Aug. 24, 1965 A. B. HOMEYER HOT WATER HEATING AND DISPENSING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed 0G11. 1'7, 1965 i mlm-Illy, m l f4. u,

FIG-4 FIG. 3

FIG. 5

INVENTR. BYQu/m'b( M @vg-LL,

DH E Vl E M O H B DH U H Tl Dn A United States Patent O snsaszi HT WATER HEATHNG AND DISPENSING APPARATUS Arthur B. l-lomeyer, Cedar Greve, NJ., assigner to Delta- '.ldne., Cedar Grove, NJ., a cerporatien ot New Jersey Filed Get. '17, 1953, Ser. No. $16,874

d Claims. (Cl. Z22- 10%) This invention relates to a hot water heater. lt relates particularly' to means associated with a hot water storage chamber but positioned remotely therefrom to control liquid flow through the heater.

Heaters of the type contemplated find practical usage in both commercial and domestic establishments. As au instantv source of hot water, particularly when available space is at a premium, such a unit can be commercially attractive and is usually compact, easily operable and primarily sate to operate. g In virtually any closed hot water heater, positive control of both temperature and liquid iiow are essential requirements. l-lowever, there always exists the possibility that because of a malfunction in one or more operating elements temperature within the water heating chamber will rise sufficiently to generate steam and thus increase the temperature and the pressure within the chamber as well asin the entire liquid system to a point where the equipment might suffer damage.

Emergencies of this type are usually anticipated and Cil accounted for through use of one or more safety devices Y generally communicated with the system or with the water heating chamber to relieve pressure through the release of steam, water or both when a predetermined condition of temperature and pressure is exceeded. Most'forms of safety devices are unobjectionable in that released fluid -is directed into a suitable drain, the outdoors or other utility area. However, where such a discharge area is not available as in the instance of a small room, an apartent, or enclosure containing the heating unit, the iiuid discharged could be very undesirable and damaging to surroundings.

A further characteristic ot a closed hot water system is that it is designed having sufficient volumetric capacity to receive cold water at a predetermined normal temperaturc. In the heating chamber, the water will be raised through a temperature gradient to a desired level and in doing so will undergo a certain degree of expansion. When however, the temperature of incoming water is substantially lower than normal, the resulting temperature vdiderential will be greater and as a consequence require a larger volumetric capacity.

US. 1Batent 2,903,551 to H. C. Fischer of September 8, 1959 illustrates a 'hot water heating system similar in certain respects to the present invention. This prior art device however is found to embody limitations in usage and applications which are overcome in the present system.

ln avoiding the above enumerated disadvantages of the hot water system, the present apparatus provides means for readily venting such a system to the atmosphere. The system is so arranged and connected that in the event of overtlow, liquid will be conveniently passed in the system (volumetric) capacity, the difference is v compensated for by the inbuilt chamber which is main- A further object is to provide a unit of the type described having a hot water dispensing head associated with a sink or other kitchen utility and being remote from the hot water holding chamber.

A still further object is to provide a hot water system having a water dispensing head operable to control the liow of water to the system, said system being normally maintained at atmospheric pressure.

lt is another object of the invention to provide a dispensing head connected with a remotely positioned supply of hot water and having means in said head for controlling the lioiv of water through the system. l

It is still another object of the invention to provide a Water dispensing head of the type described communicated with a remotely positioned source of hot water and embodying a discharge"opening and a chamber in the head connected with the atmosphere to permit compensation for excessive iiuid expansion within the heating chamber and the system and to permit discharge of excessive water when the system (volumetric) capacity is exceeded.

Other objects of the invention not particularly delin- 'eated will become clear to those skilled in the art from the accompanying description made in conjunction with the figures and with the claims defining the invention.

In the drawings:

FEGURE 1 is an elevation view in partial cross-section of a Water heating system embodying the present in- Vention.

FIGURE 2 is an elevation View on an enlarged scale and in partial cross-section of the heating unit shown in FlGURE 1 with a segment' of the outer casing removed to illustrate internal members.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged View in cross-section of the water dispensing head shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a view in cross-section taken along line 4 4 in 'ElGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a view in cross-section taken along line 5 5 in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 6 is a segmentary View in cross-section taken along line 5 6 in FIGURE 3. i

FIGURE 7 is a cross-sectional on an enlarged scale of a portion of FlGURE l diagrammatically illustrating the water heating circuit.

The above denoted objectives of the invention are achieved by providing a hot water system including a jacketed heating and storage chamber connected to a source of water and positioned at a convenient location. A dispensing head communicated with the storage chamber includes a discharge opening to direct a stream of `hot water ata point of use remote from the heating chamber valve means operably carried in the head controls'the ilow of both hot and cold water through the system. Means associated with the head, forming a chamber therein, communicating the atmosphere and with the heating chamber to form an expansion area in which heated liquid may accumulate when there is no iiow through the system.

Thereafter, as water tlow is initiated by acuation of the chtrol valve, the accumulated water is aspirated into the hot discharging stream. When the (volumetric) capacity of the entire system is exceeded by undue expension of the liquid, excessive water will rise to the expansion area and be discharged to maintain the system in balance.

IFIGURE 1 of the drawings illustrates in general an embodiment of a water heating system `of the type contemplated which includes ya jacketed water heater and storage assembly 1t) defining a water'holding tank 11 which may be supportably positioned in an inconspicuous location. A water dispensing-head 12 presently shown as being associated with a sink 13 or similar receptacle and drain, includes a manually operable actuating cap 14 for controlling flow of liquid through a discharge j openingv delining adownspout 1d. Conduit means communicating water storage tank 11 with dispensing head 12 includes a plurality of liquid carrying tubes V17, 18 and 19 passing both hot and cold water, at least one of said tubes being communicated with a pressurized supply of cold water as is normally furnished to a household tap.

FIGURE 2 shows the jacketed water heater assembly 1j() which, for` the present description, may be considered as supported on brackets within an enclosure, adjacent Vto sink 13. ln either instance the heating and storage member is disposed remote from the operating or functional part of the sink. The jacketed heater assembly consists of a storage tank 11 having heater element 15. of the coiled or straight type "therein, said tank being surrounded by a jacket comprising a thermally insulating material. An open end of casing 21 which may be either cylindrical, or rectangular as presently shown, surrounds tank 11 and takes a configuration adequate to enclose a plurality of liquid carrying conduits. Plates 22 and 23, fastened to opposite ends Vof casing 21, are

A third connector or hot water outlet 29 is positioned in plate 22 and communicates with tank 11 upper end for conducting hot water to dispensing head 12.

The tank 11 is rigidly supported within casing 21. The tank is enclosed in an insulating material such as a wrapped or aked insulating medium. While not presently shown, casing 21 may be so constructed to permit access to the heater assembly for the purpose of repair or replacement of worn parts.

Referring to FiGURES l, 2 and 3, members 29, 33 and at the top of the heater assembly, communicate with conduits 17, 18 and 19 which may consist of a pipe having a suicient diameter to carry water between the tank 11 and head 12. These conduits may also be formed of flexible metal tubing. The upper open ends of the respective conduits are soldered into openings recessed into downwardly protruding block 38 depending from the underside of dispensing head 12 and passing through an opening formed in sink 13. Block 38 is threaded to receive va locknut 39 for sealably positioned sink 13 and dispensing head 12 between washers 41 and 42.

Referring to FIGURE 3, dispensing head 12 includes a body 43 having an enlarged opening formed into the upper end thereof, and a lateral bore 44 extending into the body at a downward angle of about Means Vfor discharging a stream of water from head 12 includes curved downspout 16 taking a general gooseneck configuration and having one end sealably received in bore 44. Downspout 1d is so positioned relative body i3 such that the bent neck is positioned no higher than the upper edge lof body 43 and preferably the lower side enclosure about tank 11.

Automatic heating of water within tank 11 may be achieved by a number of different means including either electrical heating elements or suitable gas heating means adopted to be incorporated into the shown system. It is understood that although the following description refers to electric heating means, this is merely illustrative of a particular system and is not meant as a limitation to the invention.

vHeating of water in tank 11 is controlled by means of thermostat assembly 26 having an element 27 operably connected to a switch 24. The terminals of the switch are connected to a source of electric current and to the heater element. The switch 24 includes a Calibrating mechanism for adjusting the switch setting to maintain a predetermined water temperature within tank 11.

Thermostat assembly 26 may be of any suitable commercial type adapted to connect with -the heater and with the-power supply, and automatically operable to regulate water temperature within the predesired range. The electrical connections to the heating element 15 and thermostat 26 are shown in FIGURE 2 as being apair of cables connected to an external source of electrical power. i

Referring to FIGURE 2, heater tank 11 is fabricated of a brass alloy or similar material, and formed preferably into a cylindrical configuration having an inlet 28 and outletl 29 for cold and hot water respectively. Inlet 28 includes a threaded fitting or coupling member held in plate 23 by a lock nut adapted to engage a pipe or other water carrying conduit. Inlet 23 connects to a pipe 32 extending through the heater jacket, and connected at its upper endlto coupling 33 positioned in plate 22 by a .10,Ck nut.-

A second pipe 34 passing through the heater jacket is connected at its upper end to coupling 35 carrying cold water to tank 11 by way of fitting 36 communicating pipe 34 with the lower side of the tank for introducing cold water to the heating and storage chamber in the area of the heating element 15.

of the bend of the inner channel 16A is slightly below the upper edge of body 43. Downspout 1d may take any of a variety of configurations but for practical reasons is relatively short and disposed as shown.

The connecting end of downspout 16 is sealably received in the mating portion of bore 44. An O-ring 47 compressed within a peripheral groove Sii formed in bore 44, provides a watertight seal with the wall of the downspout. O-ring i7 may be of Standard coniiguration and formed of a resilient material to withstand the heat normally generated by passage of hot water through the downspout.

An opening formed in body 43 includes a discharge passage 48 extending. substantially longitudinally of the body 'and positioned to intersect chamber 4d dening a path through said passage d8 into the downspout inlet.

Center portion Esllof body 43 as shown in FIGURE 3, is provided with an elongated chamber 52 extending axially thereof. The inner diameter of portion 51 denes a valve guide 56 in which a valve pushrod assembly 53 is slidably disposedf A gland 54 threadedly received at the upper end of chamber 52 urges pushrod assembly 53 into close association with the valve port as will be hereinafter noted.

T he upper endof valve body 43 is provided with a cap or handle 14 cooperating with valve pushrod assembly 53 and rotatably engagedto raise the pushrod for controlling flow. of cold water from the conduit 18 through the valve opening, to the cold water conduit 19. Cap 14, as shown in FIGURE 3, includes an upper-wall having a counterbored opening 57 passing axially therethrough and a down turned peripheral sidewall 53 with raised embossings on the external surface thereof to facilitate gripping and rotation of the cap to actuate a stream of hot water. The upper end of pushrod 59 extends through the opening'57 in the cap wall.y A groove formed in the pushrod protruding end adjacent the cap 14 wall, holds a spring or locknut 61 against Washer 62. to maintain the pushrod and the cap in rotatable, but fixed axial relationship.

Valve body 43 includes center portion 51 disposed axially thereof and about which is formed a substantially annular elongated expansion chamber d3, open at the top and having a closed lower end. Referring to FIGURE andassi 5,'a constricted passageway 64- at the lower end of expansion chamber 63 is communicated with discharge passage48 to provide a path for uncontrolled reversible flow of liquid therethrough. Connecting passage 64 is preferably of a small bore, about 1/32 to 1/is of an inch, such that the rapidly iiowing upward stream of hot water in discharge passage 48 will aspirato a second liow of water from the expansion chamber 63 by way of passage 6d when the valve is actuated to the open position.

As shown in FIGURE 3, the lower end of body i3 is adapted to engage block 38 which includes a plurality of bores extending longitudinally therethrough to accommodate the respective ends of conduits 1'7, 1S and 19. One opening 66 disposed concentrically of bloei( 3S is counterbored at the lower end to receive tube 18, and provided at the upper end with resilient valve seat member 69. The lower end of valve pushrod 59 is formed with a circular lip 68 which sealably engages the upperor discharge end of the resilient seat member 69 carried at the outlet of passage 66 and acts to regulate the ow of cold Water through cross passage 65 for delivery totank 1l, as more fully described hereinafter. 'p

A second passage 49 in block 3S is at least. partially constricted as` at 49a toform a passageway which provides for the passage of a high velocity stream of hot Water from conduit 17 to discharge into passage i3 and then leave assembly 10 through spout 16. A third passage 70 is communicated at one end to conduit 19 carrying cold water to tank 1l, and at the other end through a cross passage 65 to the control valve and passage 66.

Referring to FlGURE 3 valve pushrod 59 includes an elongated member carrying a compression member such as a coil spring 71 disposed thereabout abutting a collar 60 adapted to reciprocably slide in guide 56. A hub 72' slidably received on pushrod 59 embodies a first O-ring 73 positioned at the hub periphery to maintain a suitable, liquid tight seal with the adjacent walls of chamber 52. A second -ring 74 formed at the upper face of hub 72 is deformed into sealing relationship with pushrod 59 by action of the spring means 71, biasing the hub into contact with the lower surface of the gland 54. Hub '72 together with its two circular seals 73 and 7d, forms a suitable fluid tight barrier between the expansion chamber 63 and chamber 52.

Referring to FIGURES 3, 4 and 6, valve actuating means cooperative with cap 14 includes a pair of mating plates 77 and 78 carried on the cap 14 and/ or body 43 respectively, positioning a bearing member therebetween. The bearing member includes a thin spider or retainer 76 having a plurality of legs radiating outwardly from a center portion, and having apertures which rotatably position balls 80.

First plate 77 is fixed within the cap 14 on a plurality of downwardly extending protuberances to prevent relative movement between the cap and the plate. Second plate 78 similar in structure to the first plate is positioned across the body 43 upper opening and engaged at the outer wall thereof. Aligned openings passing through the center of the respective plates are loosely disposed about the upper end of pushrod S9.

Referring to FIGURE 6, balls Sti carried at the plate 77 outer edges are firmly held between adjacent surfaces of plates 77 and 7@ by the action of spring 7l.. A plurality of circularly arranged tapered depressions 81 formed in the respective plates adjacent surfaces, cooperate to ear against the balls 80. As shown in FIGURE 6, with cap 14 at a normal nonoperated setting, balls Sil are so disposed with respect to the tapered depressions Sl to provide a minimum spacing between the two plates and thus maintain the valve in a closed position.

Rotative movement Vof capr14 to commence ilow of hot water, causes the tapered depressions in upper plate 77 to be displaced from the corresponding depressions in the lower plate 78 thus causing upper plate 77 to rise against balls 80 and lift cap 14 and the valve pushrod as- 6 semblyto unseat the latter from valve seat 69. Release of the cap 14 permits the valve to automatically return to its normally closed position thus discontinuing the flow of water to the tank Il, and hot water from the head 12. y

Operation of the heater unit is as follows: To initially lill the tank with water, cap i4 is rotated a part turn thus opening the valve to introduce la stream of water from the pressurized supply in conduit i8 to pass through passages 66, 65 and 7d, into the second conduit i9, and hence to the heater chamber. Normally, tank 1l will be substantially full of water and brought to a heated condition bythe thermostat regulated heating element 1S.

To Withdraw heated water from the dispensing head whenthe tank is full, cap ld is rotated thus introducing pressurized cold water to the tank, and forcing a stream of hot water from the downspout 16. When the cap is released to its normally closed seating position, water held in the upstream portion of downspout 16 will how back to the discharge passage 43, into the lateral passage 6ft', and then to expansion chamber 63. Chamber 63 will be maintained at atmospheric pressure since 'air is free to enter and any gas is free to leave chamber 63 through the space lull existing between the side wall 58 of the cap 14 and the outer upper annular wall of valve body 63. Space ltll, as shown in FIGURE 3, communicates dilrectly with chamber 63 through small openings or irregularities in the engagement between plate 78 and the upper annular wall of valve body 43 or indirectly with chamber 63 through the radial space on either side of retainer 76 which communicates with the axial space of the Jopenings in retainer 76 and plates 77 and 78 which are loosely disposed |about push rod 59 immediately below which chamber 63 is tree to communicate with these openings.

As heating continues, the water level in the system will rise due to volumetric expansion of the liquid and due on occasion to a malfunction of the heater control which would permit excessive heating and a possible formation of steam within the heating chamber. Without the expension chamber 63, continued heating and rising of the water would cause the latter to continuously drip from the downspout, a condition which is highly objectionable as an `annoyance and because of the eventual staining of the sink or other suface against which the water splashes at infrequent times, due to a large expansion or expansion when chamber 63 is almost full, the water held in chamber 63 will be permitted to discharge from spout I6 by passing from chamber 63 to passage 64- to enter passage 4S which communicates wit-h spout i6, thus preventing leakage from cap 14. This is possible because the effective height of spout 16 is lower than the uppermost edge of body 43 and the level of the water in chamber 63 never will reach a height to overilow body 43 as it will have first been discharged from spout 16.

However, normally as the liquid rises, expansion chamber 63 will not be full but will gradually accumulate a supply of the warmed water under latmospheric pressure, during those periods when there is no iow of hot water from spout 16 of the dischange head l2.

Thus, under ordinary circumstances, there will always be an intermediate supply of water held in expansion chamber 63.

When the cap 14; is rotated, its initiate discharge, a high velocity stream of hot water passing through the constricted passageway 49a will aspirate water through passage 64, from the expansion chamber 63, into the hot water stream. Since water in expansion chamber 63 may lbe substantially cooler than the main stream water, only a small amount of the former is introduced to the main hot w-ater stream so -as not to greatly eifect the temperature of Water at the downspout.

From the foregoing, it is readily seen that the present invention constitutes a relatively inexpensive and yet convenient means for safely maintaining an instant supply of hot water. in either a commercial or a domestic install-ation. Because the entire system is communicated with the atmosphere, any danger of malunctioning resulting lin damage or inconvenience is substantially overcome or avoided.

The'system is further adapted vto heat water through a greater temperature range toa desired outlet temperature without exceeding the systems volumetric capacity.

While the foregoing description of the novel apparatus discloses a preferred embodiment, it will be appreciated that certain changes andV modifications may be made in the structure of the disclosed arrangement Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

L1. In a hot water dispensing head communicated with a hot water system holding a heating element and a hot water supply at substantially atmospheric pressure:

(a) a discharge passageway formed in saidy dispensing head, v

(b) conduit means communicating saiddischarge passage with the hot water supply, (c) second conduit means in the dispensing head-communicated with a pressurized source of Water, (d) third conduit means communicating With said second conduit means and with the hot water supply,

(e) valve meansr interposed in said second conduit VVmeans operable to regulate the ilow of water from the source,

(f) said valve means having a cap associated with the dispensing head and displaceable from a non-operating position to initiate ow of Water from the discharge passage, (g) and means forming a vented expansion chamber in the head communicated with the discharge passage.

2. The combination claimed in claim 1 wherein: i

(a) a spout means communicating with said discharge passage and through which the hot water is normally delivered from the dispensing heads,

(b) lthe spout means connected to the dispensing head at -a height lower than the uppermost edges of said expansion chamber whereby excess water will not leak from said expansion chamberbut will be discharged from 4the spout means.

3. A hot water dispensing system comprising:

(a) a casing means,

(-b) a tank for storing hot water supported by the casing means,

(c) heating means operatively connected to the tank means to maintain the water within `the tank means at a predetermined temperature,

(d) a dispensing head means operatively connected to the tank means, Y

(e) a iirst conduit means connecting the dispensing head means to a source of pressurized water,

(f) a second conduit means connecting the dispensing head means to the tank means and adapted to deliver the pressurized water thereto, v

(g) valve means disposed in the dispensing head means and connected across the first conduit means and the second conduit means to regulate the iiow of pressurized water entering the tank means,

(h) a third conduit means disposed in the dispensing head means and having one end connected to the tank means and the other Vend extending outwardly from the dispensing head means whereby the valve means being operated to permit pressurized water to enter the tank means and a selective quantity of hot water from the tank means to be forced out of the third conduit means, v Y

(i) an expansion chamber lmeans formed in the dispensing head means and said expansion chamber means in communication with the atmosphere,

(j) the expansion chamber means in communication with the third conduit means an-d the tank means to permit water to be collected in the expansion chammer means, Y

(k) the outwardly extending end of the third conduit l means defining `a spout means,

(l) the spout means having an effective height selectively positioned so as to be lower than the effective height of the expansion means which is exposed to the atmosphere whereby the water collected in the expansion chamber means will be permitted to be discharged from the spout means prior to leaking from the expansion chamber.

4. rThe combination claimed in claim 3 wherein:

(a) the expansion chamber means is exposed to the atmosphere at its uppermost end,

(b) passage means provides communication between the bottom of the expansion chamber means and the third conduit means whereby water is free to 'pass from one to the other,

(c) the spout means is disposed in the dispensing head means at a point thereon located below the uppermost end of the expansion chamber means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,270,882 7/18 Schulder 251-254 X 2,598,968 6/52 Boosey 137-282 2,691,465 10/54 Royce 222--108 2,903,551 9/59 Fischer 219--323 X 2,977,025 3/61 Scott 222,-146 X 3,089,941 5/63 BeuV 219,-323

Louis J. DEMBO, Primary Examiner.

RAPHAEL M. LUPO, tao-BERT B. REEVES,

Examiners; 

1. IN A HOT WATER DISPENSING HEAD COMMUNICATED WITH A HOT WATER SYSTEM HOLDING A HEATING ELEMENT AND A HOT WATER SUPPLY AT SUBSTANTIALLY ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE: (A) A DISCHARGE PASSAGEWAY FORMED IN SAID DISPENSING HEAD, (B) CONDUIT MEANS COMMUNICATING SAID DISCHARGE PASSAGE WITH THE HOT WATER SUPPLY, (C) SECOND CONDUIT MEANS IN THE DISPENSING HEAD COMMUNICATED WITH A PRESSURIZED SOURCE OF WATER, (D) THIRD CONDUIT MEANS COMMUNICATING WITH SAID SECOND CONDUIT MEANS AND WITH THE HOT WATER SUPPLY, (E) VALVE MEANS INTERPOSED IN SAID SECOND CONDUIT MEANS OPERABLE TO REGULATE THE FLOW OF WATER FROM THE SOURCE, (F) SAID VALVE MEANS HAVING A CAP ASSOCIATED WITH THE DISPENSING HEAD AND DISPLACEABLE FROM A NON-OPERATING POSITION TO INITIATE FLOW OF WATER FROM THE DISCHARGE PASSAGE, (G) AND MEANS FORMING A VENTED EXPANSION CHAMBER IN THE HEAD COMMUNICATED WITH THE DISCHARGE PASSAGE. 